Association Forum - Photo Of Catalina 25 Boom Vang rigging?

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

Catalina 25 Specific Forum

Photo Of Catalina 25 Boom Vang rigging?

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

MurphyPeoples
1st Mate

Member Avatar

USA
45 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/06/2009 : 15:47:06

The Catalina 25 I bought has a pop top. I hooked up the boom today, and mainsheet/blocks to the traveler - but it soon became obvious that the previous owner pretty much just motored around in this sailboat with the pop top up. I found the boom vang blocks and sheets stowed down below. Unused and look practically new.

Can someone post me a photo of the rigging setup for the vang?

Also - When I set the boom into the mast - I found that someone had screwed what I'll call a "Stopper" into the sail slot so that the boom can only travel down so far in the slot. Then it hit me- they must of done this for the Pop Top. I can't imagine using the Pop Top under sail though? How would the Boom Vang clear?

Can you guys help me figure out how to get the vang properly installed? I'd really like to sail her tomorrow. I spent all day "tuning" the shrouds, making sure that the Mast slot was straight up and down. (I was amazed at how delicate the tuning was! You could easily over tighten one side too quickly with a single turn. Had to resort to 1/4 turns when getting the final tension).

Any photo's or diagrams would be a blessing. I'm guessing I should tie a "kicker" sheet to a cleat on the mast too?
Thanks in advance!
Murphy

Edited by - on

John Russell
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3444 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2009 : 17:53:35

Well, first, you can sail her without the boom vang so, if somebody doesn't provide a rigging diagram by then, go sailing and rig the vang another day. The vang will improve sail shape but isn't necessary to sail safely.

You're right, it's not safe to sail the boat with the pop top up except (MAYBE) under the most benign wind conditions. I wouldn't do it ever.

The "stopper" in the slot is just as you described it. It keeps the boom from dropping too low when the sail is down. I'd leave it.

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2009 : 19:26:10

The picture below is the most common setup. I've flipped my vang so the tail is on the boom side to make it easier to get adjust.

My vang is attached to a bale on the mast step bolt and a bale on the boom.

Edited by - dlucier on 06/06/2009 19:37:07

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 06/06/2009 : 20:56:47

If you do not have a boom bale/saddle, you can get it from Catalina Direct. That's what I did. Similar to you, the PO also had a boom vang in a plastic bag tucked away in a storage area. From the looks of it, it never had been used. When I first saw it, I did not look it over careful enough and mistook it for a replacement main sheet/blocks. Then one day, I took a closer look and then realized it was a boom vang. Installation of the boom bale was fairly easy using a Dremel and a drill bit. Then attached the bale with the screws I believe came with it.

By the way, there are somewhat different boom/mast configurations depending on the year. I am not an expert on these configs but what i can tell you is that on my '89, the boom attaches to a fixed mount on the mast...so there is no stopper. On the mast just above the sail slug slot, is a stopper to keep the sail slugs from dropping down and coming out of the slot. Below where the boom mounts to the mast, there is another sort of stopper in the sail slot. That stopper is used when the pop top is up and resting forward against the mast. The stopper is then pushed up and the top of the stopper is sort of wedge shaped and holds the pop top edge against the mast once the stopper is tightened clockwise. That then prevents the pop top from inadvertantly moving aft off the mast and closing suddenly.

Edited by - OLarryR on 06/06/2009 21:00:19

MurphyPeoples
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
45 Posts

Response Posted - 06/07/2009 : 05:10:35

You guys are GREAT! Question answered.

Now for two more:

1. There's a 1/4" sheet that comes off the top of the halyard and attaches to the end of the boom right next to the pigtail. What is that for? My previous boats did not have this setup.

2. Don- you're photo raised a question I had for you guys in the near future: The Mast electrical wiring. The PO had all new lights put on the boat. Including the mast light. The wires that come up from the topside are proper Orange/Yellow/White. There's a green wire coming out from another hole (I'm guess the ground) but it's not connected to anything. My Topside connector is three prong. The Catalina 25 Owners book shows 4 prong? Anyhow... the jackleg that re-wired the mast used Green/Black/White. It's made so that you have to connect each of the three one at a time - then screw down the cap. Not a single plug configuration at all. I thing I'm in for some electrical testing. (sigh)

Murphy

Edited by - MurphyPeoples on 06/07/2009 05:11:23

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

USA
3466 Posts

Response Posted - 06/07/2009 : 06:31:43

Murphy,

The 1/4" line is a topping lift to hold the boom horizontal when the main sail is not up. On my Cat, I leave the boom end attached to the wire that comes off the aft stay and that holds the boom up. But when getting ready to sail and leaving the finger slip, I detach the wire and then the boom would fall down except that the topping lift holds the boom horizontal. Once my main sail is raised, the topping lift goes a bit slack and does not interfere with the main sail.

My experience with the wiring is that I had the wiring replaced. There are many threads on mast wiring if you use the Forum Search engine. I had a guy wire the mast and install an LED Anchor light but he got burnt out on the job which was done lowering the mast in the finger slip. He wound up hooking some of the wires to the wrong switches. I then took it from there. I instaled a new switch panel, rewired in the cabin and replaced the deck connector, squaring away the lights to the right switches. I had 4 wires up the mast. Colors can change from the OEM setup depending on if the wires have ever been replaced before...so you never know about the color coding. Experimenting is best way to ascertain which wire goes where. You can use a voltmeter to check them out. The 4 wires on my Cat were for:
1 positive to the Anchor light; 1 to the steaming light which was a combo light with 1 positive also going to it's adjacent deck light. then there is the 1 negative wire. If you do not have a steaming light/deck light combo, then you may only need 2 positive wires and 1 negative but the 4 prong connector you have seen in the owners book is because of the anchor light and steaming light/deck light combo that requires 3 positive leads.
If you have issues with having to do any rewiring involving the deck connector...well then definitely look for past posting threads on that or ask away.

Edited by - OLarryR on 06/07/2009 06:32:35

Tom Gauntt
Navigator

Members Avatar

204 Posts

Response Posted - 06/07/2009 : 06:50:48

Murphy,

It sounds like you have a topping lift. I think these are essential to safe sailing. The PO of Lil installed a fixed lift that I easily converted to an adjustable topping lift. Really improves the safety of raising/dousing and reefing the main. You can also use it to raise the boom above the deck while not underway. Use it, you'll really love it. I really learned to love them after successfully raising the main but unsuccessfully unclipping the pigtail whilst single-handing years ago. Man, what a ride!

As for the mast lighting, I just rewired mine last week. I actually installed the new wiring harness from CD to add a spreader/deck light, so I needed another circuit. The original 3-pin deck connector appeared to be leaking, so I replaced it with the 4-pin, rewired and rebedded. This was not as easy as it first looked. The connector is, by necessity, small and uses very small set screws and there is precious little room to work. It took me about an hour to remove the old one, clean, rewire, and rebed the new one.

By the way, I saw your pictures of your new boat. Looks like a wonderful and well-loved boat! Congratulations!

Edited by - on

MurphyPeoples
1st Mate

Members Avatar

USA
45 Posts

Response Posted - 06/09/2009 : 04:37:09

Thanks guys for always having informed and helpful input.
Broke out my ASA Basic Keelboat books from 12 years ago when I took
the course, and yep... there it was.... "Topping Lift". Just like many of you said.

Anyhow, I took her out for a sail with the family Sunday - after having
attached the Boom Vang - which was easily done thanks to the info provided here.

She sailed fine and I got my first really long look at the Mainsail (see new thread).
Just wanted to take a second and express my gratitude to all.
Murphy

Edited by - on

Topic

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Jump To:

Association Forum

Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.